Developmental psychology/Chapter 7/Teaching and Learning

Hidden Cirriculum

• Hidden Cirriculum - The unofficial influence of learning for children, including scheduling, teachers, methods of disciplines and learning styles, and sports.

The Chart for Math (rough estimate)

• Age 4yrs - <[counting] to 20, knows shapes and dif. between more and less.
• Age 6yrs - <100, knows dif. between bigger and smaller. Add/subtract 5 and 2;
• Age 8yrs - Add/subtract 10 and 15. Knows multiplication and division, knows word problems with 2 variables.
• Age 10yrs - Add, subtract, multiply and divide 100+ digit numbers. Knows "fractions, percentages, area, and perimeter of shapes".
• Age 12yrs - Algebra and more complex concepts.

The Chart for Reading (rough estimate)

• Age 4-5yrs - Knows letters, direction of writing and knows own name.
• Age 6-7yrs - Knows consonants and vowels, simple words and uses sound to figure out a word.
• Age 8yrs - Simple setences, comprehension increases and punctuation. 50 words per minute.
• Age 9-10yrs - Paragraphs, advanced punctuation (semicolons), polysyllabic words including vegetarian.
• Age 11-12yrs - 100 words per minute, specialized vocabulary, abstract paragraphs, read as a hobby, sound new words.
• Age 13+yrs - Increased vocabulary, can use textbooks.

Who's Teaching?

Surprisingly, if the teachers are not of the same ethnicites as the students - usually, the children may see their education as "useless". Huge shifts in ethnic populations have taken place in recent years with more non-whites that need to be matched up with non-white teachers. This isn't to belittle white teachers, but we need more minority teachers to appeal to the minority population.

Teachers expect their children to learn, then their children will learn as a result. Studies have shown that low-SES students do not engage with their teachers as much as middle class students do, citing that those children were afraid of criticsm and didn't want to take the risk.

Since studies have showcased that improved international testing leads to improved and healthier adults (and therefore an improved economy) - nations want to make sure their children are recieving the best education that they possibly can get. The international tests listed are:

• Trends in Math and Science Study (TIMSS)
• Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
• Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a measure of learning in the real world. East Asians score high, with other nations scoring higher than the US.

They are some issues with these tests despite all the experts in the world trying their best to validate them. Are all questions bias-free? Do all questions hit culturally to all students? Should fourth graders know how to add/multiply fractions? Is basketball even a sport in central Africa vs. the US? Are boys cooking a normal thing in East Asian nations?

Girls also seem to get an avg. 19 points above their countersex in every nation for reading. In the 2016 PIRLS assessment, girls had an advantage of 8 points.

Finland's massive changes

Finland greatly reformed their education in the late 1900s, with "ability grouping" being abolished and "collobaration" being favored over competitiveness. It is very hard to be admitted into schools for teaching and are able to engage more with their children, especially kids that need help (high temperament kids, for example).

School in the US

• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) - A study for the US children pertaining reading to mathematics and other subjects. It's evidently a tougher test because it finds less proficiency vs. states.
• Major disaprities between the ethnic groups exist in the US.

Questions

1. Public vs. private school (11%)
2. Vouchers?
3. Charter schools? May be less diverse with less race and less special needs
4. Social aspects of homeschooling (3-4%)
5. Public education and religion
6. Arts education?
7. Second language learning?
8. Are computers a worthwhile investment?
9. Class size?
10. Should soft skills be taught?

At the end of the day, it's the parents decisions that will be affecting the child - depending on their ability, personality and their own financial situation.